Intaglio printing press with web wiping apparatus having supply and take-up reels outside frame

ABSTRACT

This intaglio printing press has parallel horizontally elongated frame members with almost all the principal components of the press mounted between the frame members. A wiping mechanism for the intaglio plate uses an elongated web and includes a supply reel for the web material mounted outside the frame members on one side of the press and a take-up reel mounted outside the frame members on the opposite side. The web passes from the supply reel through an aperture in the press frame and then turns at right angles to move between the frame members and over one or more wiping shoes which hold it against the plate cylinder and thence back to turn at right angles again and move out through the opposite frame member to the take-up reel.

United States Patent 1191 DAmato et a1.

1 1 INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS WITH WEB WIPING APPARATUS HAVING SUPPLY AND TAKE-UP REELS OUTSIDE FRAME [75] Inventors: Salvatore F. DAmato, Floral Park;

Chauncey P. Foote, Jr., Katonah, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: American Bank Note Company,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: June 21,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 372,087

[52) U.S. Cl. 1. 101/156; 101/168 [51] Int. Cl 84119/14 [53] Field of Search ..355/l5; 101/156, 160,

1 1 June 10, 1975 2,997,951 8/1961 Huck 101/156 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 463,578 2/1914 France 101/168 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran 5 7 ABSTRACT This intaglio printing press has parallel horizontally elongated frame members with almost all the principal components of the press mounted between the frame members. A wiping mechanism for the intaglio plate uses an elongated web and includes a supply reel for the web material mounted outside the frame members on one side of the press and a take-up reel mounted outside the frame members on the opposite side. The web passes from the supply reel through an aperture in the press frame and then turns at right angles to move between the frame members and over one or more wiping shoes which hold it against the plate cylinder and thence back to turn at right angles again and move out through the opposite frame member to the take-up reel.

11 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 10 I975 SHEET PATENTEDJUH 10 ms Illll PATENTEDJUH 10 I975 moIn 02523 i1 ZONE PATENTEUJUH 10 I975 r v mU HO rlrlr1 PATENTEDJUH I 0 1975 INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS WITH WEB WIPING APPARATUS HAVING SUPPLY AND TAKE-UP REELS OUTSIDE FRAME CROSS-REFERENCE U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 298,443, filed Oct. 17, 1972, by lvaldo Gazzola et al., entitled PRINTING PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTA- GLIO PRESS, discloses a press similar to that illustrated herein and with which the present invention may be used.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An intaglio printing press uses printing plates, usually nickel, in which the characters and other lines to be printed appear as recesses, typically being formed electrolytically. In printing from such a plate, the surface is first covered completely with ink, thereby filling the recesses. Thereafter, the unrecessed parts of the plate surface are wiped to remove the ink therefrom, leaving the ink only in the recesses. The sheet material to be printed, usually paper, is then forced against the plate at high pressure, usually by being passed through the nip between a plate cylinder carrying the plate, and a pressure cylinder running in rolling contact with the plate cylinder. The paper is thereby pushed into the recesses of the plate and the ink contained in those recesses is transferred to the paper, reproducing the contours of the recesses in ink on the paper.

Various forms of plate wiping mechanisms are known, including web wiping mechanisms in which an elongated web is rubbed against the surface of the plate to remove the surplus ink therefrom.

Intaglio presses commonly include two parallel horizontally extending frame members, between which the plate cylinder, the pressure cylinder, the sheet supply apparatus and the sheet delivery apparatus are located. The cylinders and the supply and delivery apparatus are usually supported on the frame members. Where a continuous web wiping apparatus is used in the prior art presses, it is also located between the frame members. The space between the frame members is limited, and is crowded with various parts of the press. In the intaglio presses of the prior art, the length of the wiping web which may be used has been limited by the available space. A web wiping system necessarily includes a supply reel and a take-up reel, and the longer the web, the greater diameter must be allowed for both of those reels. In a press using a wiping web located between the frame members, the diameter of the reels and hence the length of the wiping web is limited, and the length of a press run before it has to be stopped to remove the old web and insert a new one is thereby also limited.

In a press constructed in accordance with the present invention, the supply and take-up reels for the web wiping system are mounted outside the parallel frame members of the press, and hence the space limitations on the diameter of those reels are substantially less severe. Furthermore, a plurality of webs may be provided (three in the principal embodiment disclosed herein). Where such a plurality of webs is used, they usually do not run out of web material at the same time, so that the press can continue to run with only two webs doing the wiping, while the supply and take-up reels for the third web are being changed. The supply and take-up reels, being outside the frame members of the press, are

readily accessible for the insertion of new supply reels and empty take-up reels, or the removal of empty supply reels and filled take-up reels.

Various rigging arrangements are shown, some needing two webs and some needing three. It is alternatively possible to use a single web.

The mechanism for turning the web through a angle after it moves through the frame member of the press and just before it exits through the opposite frame member of the press, includes a set of angle bars, set at an angle of 45 to the path of movement of the web. These bars must be fixed against rotation. Means are provided for adjusting the heights of the bars and for changing the bar positions to accommodate different directions of movement of the web. In some installations, it may be more convenient to load the supply reels from one side of the press, and in other installations, the opposite side may be more convenient. The adjustability of the angle bars allows the press to be constructed to accommodate either arrangement. The adjustability of the angle bars also permits reversal of the web direction with respect to the direction of motion of the plate cylinder, as may be required with some plates.

Where one web is used to engage the surface of the plate cylinder twice, provision may be made for inverting the web between the two points of engagement, so that one surface of the web makes the first wipe and the opposite surface makes the second wipe.

It is known to turn or invert continuous webs of paper or the like through angles by the use of angle bars, as shown by the US. patent to Anthony et al., No. 2l2,880, issued Mar. 4, I879. Anthony et al. was concerned with changing the direction of movement of the paper being printed and has no suggestion regarding changing the direction of movement of a wiping web on an intaglio press.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a press embodying the invention, with certain parts broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the press of FIG. 1 on a slightly different scale.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. I, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, on a further enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, on a further enlarged scale.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view with certain parts removed, taken along the lines 8-8 of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10l0 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. I, on an enlarged scale, showing a carriage supporting the wiping shoes and the driving and adjusting apparatus for those shoes.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 11, but taken from the back side of the press as viewed in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an alternative method of rigging the wiping web in the press of FIG. 1, including a web inverter mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l414 of FIG. 13, showing the web inverter mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a modified arrangement for rigging webs around wiping shoes.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, showing another arrangement for rigging webs around wiping shoes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-12 FIGS. I and 2 show an intaglio printing press equipped with plate wiping mechanism embodying the invention. The printing press includes parallel horizontally elongated frame members I and 2 having aligned upright portions la and 2a which support a plate cylinder 3 and a pressure cylinder 4 by means of suitable bearings and shafts (not shown). Conventional sheet supply apparatus. generally indicated at 5 and printed sheet delivery apparatus 6 are provided as well as a suitable ink supply mechanism 7. The sheet supply and delivery apparatus and the ink supply mechanism are located between the frame members 1 and 2, and, at least in their operating positions, are fixed with respect to the frame members. At the left-hand side of FIGS. I and 2, there appear three supply reels 11, 12 and 13 mounted on spindles 14, 15 and 16, respectively. The spindles 14, 15 and 16 are rotatably supported by a pair of uprights 17, 18 which are fixed at their inner ends to the frame member I. At the back side of the press as viewed in FIG. 1, three take-up reels 21, 22 and 23 are mounted on spindles 24, 25 and 26, respectively, rotatably received in a pair of uprights 27 and 28, which are fixed at their inner ends to the frame member 2 of the press.

A web 31 (FIG. 3) of material, usually a kraft paper, which may be crinkled, runs from the supply reel 11 over a motor driven metering device 32 of conventional form and thence through an aperture lb in the frame member I to a non-rotating angle bar 33 which is oriented at an angle of 45 to the direction of movement of the web 31. The web 31 runs over the top of the angle bar 33, as viewed in FIG. 3, and out from under the bottom of the angle bar, having been turned through an angle of 90 by the angle bar. See FIG. 4. It then proceeds along the path shown in FIG. 1 and in somewhat greater detail in FIG. 12, moving over guide rollers 34 and 35 and thence between a wiping shoe 36 and the surface of the plate cylinder 3. The shoe 36 is usually oscillated endwise. After wiping the surface of the plate cylinder 3, the web 31 proceeds over guide rollers 37 and 38 (see FIG. 12) and then moves to the top side of an angle bar 41 (FIGS. 3 and 4) oriented at an angle of to the direction of movement of the web and at an angle of 90 of the angle bar 41. The web 31 then moves under the angle bar 41 and out through an aperture 2b in the frame member 2, over a guide roller 42, and past a diameter sensing device 43 to the periphery of the takeup reel 23.

Take'up reel 23 is driven by a motor 44 acting through a friction clutch schematically indicated at 45. The clutch 45 is continuously overrunning, so that the reel 23 takes up whatever material is supplied by the metering device 32 and maintains the web 31 under tension.

A brake 46 (FIG. 3) acts continuously on the supply reel 11 and maintains the web 31 under tension between the supply reel 11 and the metering device 32.

The supply reel 12 delivers a second web 47 over a wiping shoe S1 to the take-up reel 22. Supply reel 13 delivers a third web 52 over a wiping shoe 53 to the take-up reel 21. Each of the webs 47 and 52 passes over metering devices 32, angle bars 33 and 41, and diameter sensing devices 43, similar to those associated with the web 31.

For any one of the three webs 31, 47 and 52. the direction of its movement relative to the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder 3 is determined by the relative positions of the angle bars 33 and 41. In the case of the webs 31 and 47, the angle bar 33 is below the angle bar 41, so that the web 31 must first engage the surface of the plate cylinder 3 at a lower point than it leaves that cylinder. The same is true of the web 47. With respect to the web 52, the angle bar 33 is above the angle bar 41, so that the web 52 must first engage the plate cylinder 3 at a point above the location where it leaves that cylinder. Consequently, the web 52 moves in Contact with the cylinder 3 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereof while the webs 31 and 47 move in contact with the cylinder in the same direction as the cylinder. As explained below, the direction of motion of any web can be reversed by changing the relative elevations of the angle bars 33 and 41, so that angle bar 33 is below or above the angle bar 41. The particular direction in which a given web is to be driven is determined empirically, depending upon the characteristics of the particular printing plate being used and the characteristics of the particular ink.

In order to turn a moving web through an angle by passing it over an angle bar, the angle bar must be stationary, and it must be engaged by the web for exactly 180 of its periphery. If for any reason the web is not moving over a given angle bar through an arc of exactly 180, then this situation can be corrected by the addition of one or more idler rollers such as those shown at 67 and 71 in FIG. 3 and at 69 and in FIG. 1. While, in the modifications illustrated, the webs are shown as traveling horizontally to and from the angle bars 33 and 41, it is not necessary that the path of the web as it approaches and meets the angle bars be exactly horizontal. It is only necessary that the approach path and the departure path be in parallel planes, so that the web travels around the periphery of the angle bar for The angle bars 33 and 41 are stationary. i.e., nonrotating. I

The diameter sensing apparatus 43 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and includes a fixed arm 54 attached to the frame member 2 and pivotally supporting a bell-crank lever 55 having an arm 55a carrying a shoe 56 which rides on the web and extends laterally substantially all the way across the web. The other arm 55b of lever 55 has its end pivotally connected to a chain 57 which passes over two sprockets 58 and 61, and is connected at its opposite end to a piston 62 (see FIG. 7). The piston moves in a cylinder 63 and is biased downwardly in that cylinder by a compression spring 64. The sprocket S8 is fixed on a shaft 65 which operates a controller generally indicated at 66 (FIG. 5) regulating the pressure on the clutch 45. The purpose of this pressure control is to increase the clutch pressure in proportion to the increase in the radius of the takeup reel, so that the tension is maintained substantially constant in the web as the reel increases from a small diameter to a large diameter.

The structure of the angle bars 33 and 41 is essentially the same. The angle bar 41 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The right-hand end of the angle bar 41 is closed by a cap 72 having a stub shaft 73 projecting from its center. The stub shaft 73 carries a ball 74 providing for limited universal movement of the shaft 73 with respect to a supporting ring 75 fixed on a post 76 which passes through a bearing sleeve 77 having a flange resting on a bracket 78 attached by suitable clamp screws 81 to a supporting column 82. The post 76 is threaded at its lower end to receive a nut 83 engaging a washer 84 which holds the post fixed in position on the bracket 78. The upper end of the column 82 is fixed in place with respect to the frame member 2 by means of another bracket 85 mounted on that frame member.

The left end of angle bar 41, as viewed in FIG. 8, is closed by a cap 86 having at its center a projecting boss 87 forked at its outer end to receive a vertical pivot pin 88. The bar 41 is fixed against rotation with respect to cap 88 by a pin 90. The lower side of the fork, as viewed in FIG. 10, is formed by a plate 87a attached to the boss 87 by screws 89. The pivot pin 88 is enlarged in a central region, and has a horizontal threaded horizontal to receive a threaded pivot pin 91. The pivot pin 91 is fixed in place on a bracket 92 attached to another column 93 by means of a clamp screw 94. The upper end of column 93 is connected to the frame member 1 by means of a spacer bracket 95 attached to the column 93 by a screw 96 and to the frame member 1 by screws 97. The pivot pins 88 and 91 together form a universal joint allowing limited universal movement of bar 41 with respect to the frame member 1. With the arrangement just described for supporting the ends of the angle bar 41, it may be seen that either bar 41 or bar 33 may be removed from the two columns 82, 93 or 101, 102 which support it and that when bar 41 or 33 is removed, the other bar 33 or 41 may be moved up or down its supporting columns to the elevation formerly occupied by 41 or 33. The removed bar 41 or 33 may then be remounted at the elevation formerly occupied by bar 33 or 41. This reversal of the elevation of the two bars must be carried out in three instances: I in order to reverse the direction of the movement of the web with respect to the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder; (2) to reverse the location of the supply reels 11, 12 and 13 with respect to the locations of the take-up reels 2], 22 and 23, as may be required for some press installations; and (3) when changing from a system which wipes with only one side of the paper to a system which wipes with both sides. In order to remove the angle bar 41, the nut 103 on the end of the pivot pin 91 is removed and the pivot pin withdrawn. The opposite end of the angle bar 41, can then be moved outwardly through the ring 75. The brackets 78 and 92 and their attachments may then be shifted upwardly or downwardly on their supporting columns, as required.

FIGS. 11-12 Each of the wiper shoes 36, 51 and 53 is provided with conventional mechanism for adjusting the pressure between the wiper shoes and the plate cylinder 3. This mechanism comprises, for each wiper shoe, a pair of motors 104 (FIG. 12), one at each side of the press, although only one is shown, for driving one end of the the wiper shoe toward and away from the plate cylinder and a pair of knobs 1040, each of which changes the position of a stop which limits the movement of one end of the wiper shoe toward the plate cylinder 3.

A motor 105 for each wiper shoe adjusts the angle between the wiper shoe and the plate cylinder 3. The motors 105 are manually controlled. An angle indicator 1050 is provided for each wiper shoe, and a lock nut 1115b associated with each indicator maintains the angle fixed once it has been adjusted. Motors 106 reciprocate the wiper shoe axially of the plate cylinder so as to maintain a continuous lateral wiping action. The speed of the motors is variable, and the axial stroke of each wiper shoe is adjustable by means of an eccentric 106a. Wiping webs 31, 47 and 52 may be advanced continuously by the metering devices 32, or they may be driven intermittently as is more conventional. The speed of the webs is adjustable relative to the speed of the plate cylinder, and the ratio of those speeds, once selected, is not affected by changes in the speed of the plate cylinder.

FIGS. 13-14 These figures illustrate an arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention, in which two wiping webs 111 and 112 are provided rather than the three wiping webs 31, 47 and 52 of the previous figures. In FIG. 13, the wiping web 111 corresponds exactly to the wiping web 52 of the previous figures, and will not be further described. Wiping web 112 runs over both of the wiping shoes 36 and 51. Its path of movement may be traced from the lower left in FIG. 13, where its upper surface is identified by the letter A and its lower surface by B, past guide rollers 113 and 114, and over wiping shoe 36, where surface B is in contact with the plate cylinder 3. It then proceeds past guide rollers 115, 116, I17 and 118 to an inverter assembly 119 best seen in FIG. 14. The inverter assembly includes a first angle bar 121 set at an angle of 45 to the travel of the web 112. The web 112 passes under the angle bar 121 and then over its upper surface as viewed in FIG. 14, so that the surface A of the web which was uppermost at the left-hand side of FIG. 14 is facing downwardly after the web leaves the angle bar 121. The web then passes over idler rollers 122 and 123 and thence under and over another angle bar 124. The web 112 is again inverted when it passes over the rollers 122 and 123, and is inverted a third time as it passes angle bar 124 so that it exits from FIG. 14 to the right under an idler roller 125 with the surface B uppermost. It then passes over guide rollers 126 and 127 (FIG. 13) to the wiping shoe and between the wiping shoe 51 and the plate cylinders 3, with the surface A of the web 112 in contact with the plate cylinder 3. After leaving the wiping shoe 51, the web 112 passes over a guide roller 128 (FIG. 13).

FIG. 15

FIG. 15 shows an arrangement in which a single web 131 is used to pass over all three of the wiping shoes 36, 51 and 53. The web 131 passes over the wiping shoes 36 and 51 in the same orientation, i.e., with the same surface in contact with the plate cylinder 3. It next passes over an inverter assembly 119 which may be the same as the inverter assembly 119 in FIGS. 13 and 14. From the inverter assembly 119, the web 131 passes over the wiping shoe 53 and between that wiping shoe and the plate cylinder 3.

FIG. 16

FIG. 16 shows still another arrangement of the wiping webs, in which two webs 132 and 133 are used. The web 132 passes over both wiping shoes 36 and 51 without change in its orientation. The web 133 passes over only the wiping shoe 53.

FIGS. 17-18 These figures illustrate a structural arrangement in which the press of FIGS. 1 and 3 is modified so that the two lower wiping webs move along the surface of the plate cylinder in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation, rather than in the same direction, as in FIGS. 1 and 3, while the uppermost web moves in the direction of rotation.

In FIGv 17, the three webs are shown at 141, 142 and 143. Except that the direction of movement of each of the respective webs is reversed as compared to that of the webs 31, 47 and 52in FIG. 1, FIG. 17 is the same as the middle part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 illustrates how this reversal of movement of the webs with respect to the plate cylinder is accomplished by reversing the elevational positions of each pair of angle bars 33 and 41, without changing the orientation of those bars from the position shown in FIG. 4. To be more specific, compare the web 31 and its path over the bars 33 and 41 in FIG. 3 with the web 141 and its path over the bars 33 and 41 in FIG. 18. Note that the web 141 first moves over the top of the bar 33 and is thereby turned through 90 and thence moves outwardly of the plane of the paper toward the observer, and toward the wiping shoe 36. The web 141 moves downwardly over the wiping shoe 36 in a direction opposite to the clockwise direction of the plate cylinder 3 and thence out to the left as shown in FIG. 17, passing under the angle bar 41 and being turned thereby through an angle of 90, and out past an idler roller 144 and through the opening 2b in the frame member 2 to the take-up reel 23. Note that the angle bar 33 in FIG. 18 for web 141 is above the angle bar 41, whereas in FIG. 3, the angle bar 33 for web 31 is below the angle bar 41. Similarly, for the middle set of angle bars 33 and 41, which operate on the web 47 in FIG. 3 and on the web 142 in FIG. 18, note that the angle bar 33 which was the lowest of the two in FIG. 3 has been changed to the uppermost position in FIG. 18.

With regard to the web 52 in FIG. 3, and its counterpart 143 in FIG. 18, note that the angle bar 33 is above the angle bar 41 in FIG. 3, but that the two angle bars have been reversed in position in FIG. 18, so that bar 33 is below the angle bar 41.

We claim:

1. An intaglio printing press comprising:

a. parallel longitudinally extending frame members;

b. a plate cylinder extending between said frame members and rotatably supported thereby;

c. a pressure cylinder cooperating with the plate cylinder and rotatably mounted in said frame members;

d. printing paper feed means between the frame members;

e. printed paper delivery means between the frame members;

f. inking mechanism between the frame members for inking an intaglio plate on the plate cylinder;

g. plate wiping mechanism, including:

1. at least one continuous wiping web;

2. a supply reel for said web;

3. means rotatably supporting the supply reel for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the frame member nearest said axis being apertured to allow passage of the web therethrough from said reel;

4. a first angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web and extend at an angle of 45 to the frame members, said bar being effective to guide the web through a angle;

5. a wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder;

6. means guiding the web from the angle bar between the wiping shoe and the plate cylinder;

7. a second angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web after it leaves the wiping shoe, said second bar being oriented to turn the web through 90 so that it turns to ward the other frame member and through an aperture therein;

8. a take-up reel for said web;

9. means rotatably supporting the take-up reel for rotation about an axis parallel to and outside the frame members and on the opposite side thereof from the supply reel;

l0. both said rotatably supporting means being readily accessible for exchange of filled reels and empty reels; and

] I. drive means for advancing the web.

2. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which said wiping mechanism includes:

a. a plurality of continuous webs;

b. a corresponding plurality of wiping shoes successively engaging the surface of the plate cylinder; c. guiding means for each web directing it over one of said plurality of wiping shoes;

(1. separate supply reels, take-up reels and drive means for each of the plurality of webs, said separate drive means being independently controllable to permit the replacement of the supply reel and take-up reel for one web while at least one other web continues to advance with the operation of the press;

e. means supporting each of said supply and take-up reels for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the supporting means for each take-up reel being located on the opposite side of the frame members from the supply reel for the same web; and

f. each said guiding means includes:

1. a first angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45 to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the supply reel through a 90 angle and toward one of the wiping shoes; and

2. a second angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45 to the frame members. and effective to turn the web coming from the wiping shoe through a 90 angle and toward the take-up reel.

3. An intaglio printing press as in claim I, in which the plate wiping mechanism includes:

a. two wiping shoes biased to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder;

b. means for guiding the web first between one wiping shoe and the plate cylinder and then between the other wiping shoe and the plate cylinder;

c. said guiding means including turnover means for inverting the web between the two guiding shoes so that one side of the web engages the cylinder at the first wiping shoe and the other side of the web engages the cylinder at the second wiping shoe.

4. An intaglio printing press as in claim 3, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes:

a. a second continuous wiping web;

b. a supply reel and take-up reel for said second web;

c. a third wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder after it passes the first two wiping shoes; and

d. means guiding the second web over the third wiping shoe.

5. An intaglio printing press as in claim 3, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes:

av a second continuous wiping web;

b. a supply reel and take-up reel for said second web;

c. a third wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder before it passes the first two wiping shoes; and

d. means guiding the second web over the third wiping shoe.

6. An intaglio printing press as in claim I, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes:

a. three wiping shoes mounted to engage successively the surface of the plate cylinder;

b. two continuous wiping webs;

c. means guiding one of said webs over two of the wiping shoes; and

d. means guiding the other web over the third wiping shoe;

e. separate supply reels and take-up reels for each of the webs;

f. means supporting each of said supply and take-up reels for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the supporting means for each take-up reel being located on the opposite side of the frame members from the supply reel for the same web; and

g. each said guiding means includes:

l. a first angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45 to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the supply reel through a 90 angle and toward one of the wiping shoes; and

2. a second angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45 to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the wiping shoe through a 90 angle and to ward the take-up reel.

7. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes:

a. three wiping shoes mounted to engage compressively and successively the surface of the plate cylinder;

b. guiding means for directing the web over two of said shoes with one side of the web in contact with the cylinder;

c. turnover means for inverting the web after it leaves said guiding means; and

d. second guiding means for directing the web over the third shoe with its opposite surface engaging the plate cylinder.

8. Web wiping apparatus for an intaglio press, com

prising:

a. two parallel horizontally elongated press frame members between which the operative elements of the press are journaled;

b a continuous wiping web;

c. a supply reel for said web;

(1. a take-up reel for said web;

e. means for supporting said supply reel outside said frame members for rotation about an axis extending parallel to said frame members;

f. means for supporting the take-up reel outside the other of said frame members for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the frame members. said frame members being apertured in alignment with said supporting means to permit passage of the web therethrough;

g. a first angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web for turning the web from movement in a direction transverse to said frame members to a direction between and parallel to said frame members;

h. a second angle bar for turning the web from a return path between and parallel to said frame members to another transverse path leading to the takeup reel; and

i. support means for the angle bars.

9. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 8, in which said support means includes:

a. four columns at opposite sides of the transverse path of the web and adjacent the frame members; and

b. for each angle bar, two clamp means vertically adjustable on diagonally opposite columns, and two removable connecting means between the opposite ends of the bar and the two clamp means.

10. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 8, including:

a. two continuous wiping webs;

b. two supply reels. one for each web;

c. two take-up reels one for each web;

d. means for supporting both supply reels outside said frame members on one side of said press for rota tion about axes extending parallel to said frame members;

e. means for supporting both the take-up reels outside the frame members on the other side of the press for rotation about axes extending parallel to the frame members; and

f. first and second angle bars for each said web.

11. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 10, including common support means for the first and second angle bars of both said webs. 

1. a first angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45* to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the supply reel through a 90* angle and toward one of the wiping shoes; and
 1. a first angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45* to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the supply reel through a 90* angle and toward one of the wiping shoes; and
 1. at least one continuous wiping web;
 1. An intaglio printing press comprising: a. parallel longitudinally extending frame members; b. a plate cylinder extending between said frame members and rotatably supported thereby; c. a pressure cylinder cooperating with the plate cylinder and rotatably mounted in said frame members; d. printing paper feed means between the frame members; e. printed paper delivery means between the frame members; f. inking mechanism between the frame members for inking an intaglio plate on the plate cylinder; g. plate wiping mechanism, including:
 2. a supply reel for said web;
 2. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which said wiping mechanism includes: a. a plurality of continuous webs; b. a corresponding plurality of wiping shoes successively engaging the surface of the plate cylinder; c. guiding means for each web directing it over one of said plurality of wiping shoes; d. separate supply reels, take-up reels and drive means for each of the plurality of webs, said separate drive means being independently controllable to permit the replacement of the supply reel and take-up reel for one web while at least one other web continues to advance with the operation of the press; e. means supporting each of said supply and take-up reels for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the supporting means for each take-up reel being located on the opposite side of the frame members from the supply reel for the same web; and f. each said guiding means includes:
 2. a second angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45* to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the wiping shoe through a 90* angle and toward the take-up reel.
 2. a second angle bar between the frame members and extending at an angle of 45* to the frame members, and effective to turn the web coming from the wiping shoe through a 90* angle and toward the take-up reel.
 3. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which the plate wiping mechanism includes: a. two wiping shoes biased to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder; b. means for guiding the web first between one wiping shoe and the plate cylinder and then between the other wiping shoe and the plate cylinder; c. said guiding means including turnover means for inverting the web between the two guiding shoes so that one side of the web engages the cylinder at the first wiping shoe and the other side of the web engages the cylinder at the second wiping shoe.
 3. means rotatably supporting the supply reel for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the frame member nearest said axis being apertured to allow passage of the web therethrough from said reel;
 4. a first angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web and extend at an angle of 45* to the frame members, said bar being effective to guide the web through a 90* angle;
 4. An intaglio printing press as in claim 3, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes: a. a second continuous wiping web; b. a supply reel and take-up reel for said second web; c. a third wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder after it passes the first two wiping shoes; and d. means guiding the second web over the third wiping shoe.
 5. An intaglio printing press as in claim 3, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes: a. a second continuous wiping web; b. a supply reel and take-up reel for said second web; c. a third wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder before it passes the first two wiping shoes; and d. means guiding the second web over the third wiping shoe.
 5. a wiping shoe mounted to engage compressively the surface of the plate cylinder;
 6. means guiding the web from the angle bar between the wiping shoe and the plate cylinder;
 6. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes: a. three wiping shoes mounted to engage successively the surface of the plate cylinder; b. two continuous wiping webs; c. means guiding one of said webs over two of the wiping shoes; and d. means guiding the other web over the third wiping shoe; e. separate supply reels and take-up reels for each of the webs; f. means supporting each of said supply and take-up reels for rotation about an axis outside said frame members and extending parallel thereto, the supporting means for each take-up reel being located on the opposite side of the frame members from the supply reel for the same web; and g. each said guiding means includes:
 7. An intaglio printing press as in claim 1, in which said plate wiping mechanism includes: a. three wiping shoes mounted to engage compressively and successively the surface of the plate cylinder; b. guiding means for directing the web over two of said shoes with one side of the web in contact with the cylinder; c. turnover means for inverting the web after it leaves said guiding means; and d. second guiding means for directing the web over the third shoe with its opposite surface engaging the plate cylinder.
 7. a second angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web after it leaves the wiping shoe, said second bar being oriented to turn the web through 90* so that it turns toward the other frame member and through an aperture therein;
 8. Web wiping apparatus for an intaglio press, comprising: a. two parallel horizontally elongated press frame members between which the operative elements of the press are journaled; b. a continuous wiping web; c. a supply reel for said web; d. a take-up reel for said web; e. means for supporting said supply reel outside said frame members for rotation about an axis extending parallel to said frame members; f. means for supporting the take-up reel outside the other of said frame members for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the frame members, said frame members being apertured in alignment with said supporting means to permit passage of the web therethrough; g. a first angle bar between the frame members and adjacent the path of the web for turning the web from movement in a directIon transverse to said frame members to a direction between and parallel to said frame members; h. a second angle bar for turning the web from a return path between and parallel to said frame members to another transverse path leading to the take-up reel; and i. support means for the angle bars.
 9. means rotatably supporting the take-up reel for rotation about an axis parallel to and outside the frame members and on the opposite side thereof from the supply reel;
 9. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 8, in which said support means includes: a. four columns at opposite sides of the transverse path of the web and adjacent the frame members; and b. for each angle bar, two clamp means vertically adjustable on diagonally opposite columns, and two removable connecting means between the opposite ends of the bar and the two clamp means.
 10. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 8, including: a. two continuous wiping webs; b. two supply reels, one for each web; c. two take-up reels, one for each web; d. means for supporting both supply reels outside said frame members on one side of said press for rotation about axes extending parallel to said frame members; e. means for supporting both the take-up reels outside the frame members on the other side of the press for rotation about axes extending parallel to the frame members; and f. first and second angle bars for each said web.
 10. both said rotatably supporting means being readily accessible for exchange of filled reels and empty reels; and
 11. drive means for advancing the web.
 11. Web wiping apparatus as in claim 10, including common support means for the first and second angle bars of both said webs. 